The Philly Diner, once a fixture on the University of Pennsylvania campus, closed last week. According to the Daily Pennsylvanian, the general manager confirmed that the diner’s owner did not renew the lease.

The diner had been a popular destination for Penn students until the advent of fast casual restaurant chains (Chipotle Mexican Grill, Bobby’s Burger Palace, and Sweetgreen), which now dominate the block.

The building now stands empty, its contents sold and its signage blacked out.

About the author

Rachel Hildebrandt, a recent graduate of PennDesign, is a native Philadelphian who is passionate about the changing city she inhabits. Before beginning her graduate studies in historic preservation with a focus on policy, Rachel obtained a B.A. in Psychology from Chestnut Hill College and co-authored two books, The Philadelphia Area Architecture of Horace Trumbauer (2009) and Oak Lane, Olney, and Logan (2011). She currently works as a program associate at Partners for Sacred Places.

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